Spooling device with pre-winding means

ABSTRACT

A spooling device for winding a thread package on a rotatable carrier with a pre-winding means to form an initial winding and/or thread reserve at one end of the carrier adjacent the normally wound package, this pre-winding means including a multiflanged cylindrical thread guide element rotatable into open positions consisting of circumferentially removed portions of the individual flanges which permit the running thread to slide axially along the circumferential thread-contacting surface of the guide element past each flange.

United States Patent [191 Schippers SPOOLING DEVICE WITH 'PRE-WINDING MEANS [75] Inventor: Heinz Schippers, Remscheid,

Germany [73] Assignee: Barmag Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Wuppertal, Germany [22] Filed: June 1, 1972 [21 I App]. No.: 258,869

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 4 1971 Germany 2127793 [52] U.S. Cl. 242/18 PW [51 1 Int. Cl B65h 54/02 [58] Field of Search 242/18 PW [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.198.445 8/1965 Hull, Jr. et al 242/18 PW June 4, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 978,187 12/1964 Great Britain 242/18 PW 427,597 6/1967 Switzerland t v 242/18 PW 464,033 11/1968 Switzerland 242/18 PW Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Johnston, Keil Thompson & Shurtleff [57] ABSTRACT A spooling device for winding a thread package on a rotatable carrier with a pre-winding means to form an initial winding and/or thread reserve at one end of the carrier adjacent the normally wound package, this pre-winding means including a multi-flanged cylindrical thread guide element rotatable into open positions consisting of circumferentially removed portions of the individual flanges which permit the running thread to slide axially along the circumferential threadcontacting surface of the guide element past each flange.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures possible.

1 SPOOLING DEVICE WITH PRE-WINDING MEANS In thread processing apparatus such as spinning, stretching, twisting and crimping machines, the resulting thread or yarn after being processed is taken up into a wound body in the form of a spool, coil, bobbin, cop or the like. These wound products serve as feed spools in further processing of the thread or yarn, for example after a pretreatment of the wound thread or yarn such as by heating, steaming, dyeing or the like. In using such feed spools, it is in many cases necessary and often at least desirable for the thread end of one feed spool to be tiedwith the beginning of the next feed spool. For this purpose, one normally uses a so-called thread reserve, i.e. a length of thread of normal quality which lies alongside of the main winding on its carrier, for example a bobbin or spool sleeve. 1n addition, with textile machines of the above-mentioned type, the problem exists with respect to the application of the thread that it achieves its normal quality, for example its predetermined twist or stretching, only after a certain initial running time. The thread material accumulating during this initial period represents waste and should neither be collected in the thread reserve nor brought into the main winding. It would be much better to deposit this waste lengthof thread as a special initial winding'on the carrier of the main winding or else next to it.

One requirement for the thread reserve is that it be sufficiently long so that it is possible to tie the thread ends. On the other hand, inorder to save space on the winding carrier, it is desirable to deposit the thread in the thread reserve by laying as many thread windings as possible one over the other while also laying as few thread windings as possible next to one another along the carrier. Such. a point-like or nearly point-like deposit of the thread demands that the maximum thread length be limited, because otherwise the danger exists that the layers of: the thread reserve or the individual windings willslipwith respect to one another so that the discovery of the endof the thread and/or the taking off of the thread reserve will be made difficult or imlt is also required that the initial winding be at least long enough that no spoiled material comes into the thread reserve lying beside it or into the main winding. Atthe same time however, its length must be limited in order to avoidunnecessary amounts of waste material and-to make possible a space-saving winding, i.e. one which is point-like or nearly point-like along the carrier, thereby permitting a still very satisfactory unwindingand removal or the thread.

Both the initial winding and also the thread reserve can be produced in the form of narrow, high windings. Likewise, it is possible to deposit the initial winding and the threadreserve into a cross bandage by means of a reciprocating thread guide and thereby produce a steep andhigh winding. However, this technique requires a very high technical expenditure, because in addition to the essential traversing device for the production of the mainwinding, one must also provide an additional reciprocating traversing device for the production of the initialwinding and/or the thread reserve. A device has been suggested for the traversing drive of spooling apparatus in the winding and setting of a thread reserve, whereby it is possible to hold the main thread guide at its reversal point until a thread reserve has been formed of apredetermined length.

One device of this type is disclosed in German Pat. No. 1,535,135. The disadvantage of this device resides in the fact that it requires a proportionately large mechanical expenditure, and that the entire thread reserve isdeposited in a winding with several layers, these layers having a very strong tendency to slide and thereby hide or cover up the beginning of the thread. This known device also has the disadvantage that the traversing thread guide must be put at the reversal point in the starting of the spooling operation and an adjustment of the traversing drive is necessary.

lt has further been suggested for the application of the thread reserve to use a swung around or pivoted winding member (German Pat. No. 1,560,569) or a pivoted wire coil (German Pat. No. 1,242,489). The disadvantage of these embodiments resides in the fact that the initial winding or the thread reserve winding require too much space.

For the application of the thread reserve, it has also been suggested to use a supported thread guide plate with a longitudinal slot open on one side, wherein the longitudinal edges of the plate are provided with intermeshing cams formed like opposing sawteeth which can be positioned to fill the gaps, the slot of the thread guide plate being directed parallel to the spool axis. The thread is introduced with the application of the thread into this slot, and the thread is then lifted by means of a yoke or clamp which is suitably arched or vaulted from above on the reciprocating traversing device and which partially seizes the thread each time at the reversal point of the traversing movement, the thread being inserted into the next tooth base between two cams toward the center point. (See German Pat. No. 1,292,564). In order to obtain a thread reserve or initial winding of specific length in this device, several windings must also be applied beside one another and indeed in the course of the rapidly reciprocating movement of the traversing device. Moreover, in sliding over the sawtooth-like cams and with the seizing action of the arched yoke or clamp located on the traversing device, the thread is subjected to a very disadvantageous mechanical treatment or processing effect, especially when working with threads or yarns composed of synthetic or artificial thermoplastic filaments, i.e. manmade filaments and fibers. Difficulties also arise in the simultaneously careful treatment of the thread as it is being applied.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved pre-winding means in a thread or yarn spooling device which can be easily and inexpensively constructed and installed while still permitting a substantial adjustment of thread length for an initial winding or thread reserve winding. Another object of the invention is to provide such improved pre-winding means which operateseffectively and without damage in handling all types of threads, yarns, filaments or the like. Yet another object is to provide a spooling device with a traversing means for the normal thread package fed directly by the pre-winding means without requiring any specific adjustment or synchronization of the traversing means with the pre-winding means. Still another object of the invention is to provide a prewinding means whereby an initial winding of waste thread can be followed by a second separate thread reserve winding, both windings being relatively limited in the terminal zone of the thread spool or carrier to a point-like or nearly point-like thread application.

' wound thread package, said pre-winding means essentially including an elongated cylindrical guide element rotatably mounted and positioned along said carrier terminal zone with the axis of the guide element parallel to the carrier axis so that the thread is received in runningcontact partially around the circumferential surface of said guide element, drive means to rotate said cylindrical guide element, and at least two radially projecting flanges at axially spaced positions on said guide element for rotation therewith, each flange being steeply flanked in the axial directionof the guide element and having at least one segment removed therefrom to provide a corresponding open position of the flange where the thread can slide axially along the circumferential surface of the guide element past the flange.

.The spooling devicepreferably has three of the projecting flanges distributed over the length of the guide element, and each flange preferably has two removed segments or open positions opposite one another, i.e. spaced about 180 apart with reference to their rotated positions. Also, the open positions of each individual flange are preferably turned about 90 from the open positions of the adjacent flanges. By providing a speed adjustment for the drive means, one can adjust the rate at which the guide element and its flanges rotate, thereby regulating the length of time during which the thread builds up before a flange until it reaches an open position so as to regulate the pre-winding length of the thread.

It is further desirable for the spooling device of the invention to include means to urge the thread axially along the circumferential surface of the guide element toward the center of the carrier. By providing a second thread guide member projecting along the length of the carrier in a-position parallel to the carrier axis, preferably as an axial extension of the cylindrical guide element, the running thread is continuously guided even after leaving the last flange of the-guide element,-at least until it is taken up'or engaged by a traversing means interposed between the guide element and the carrier. This second thread guide-member or element can also function as the drive shaft coaxial with and bearing the guide element, this guide shaft being rov tated by. the drive means. The traversing means for winding the normal thread package can be substantially conventional, it being desirable however to provide a thread guide traveler in the form of a yoke with two arms enclosing a slot for the thread, the arm closest to the cylindrical guide element or pre-winding zone of the carrier being slanted in the axial direction so that the thread can run up this arm and into the slot where it is then held for the traversing movement. The means for axially urging the thread along the cylindrical guide element may likewise be constructed in a conventional manner, for example using any suitable guide pin, eyelet, thread-forwarding means or the like arranged below the rotating carrier, preferably at about the central portion of the carrier with reference to a plane passed perpendicularly to its axis of rotation. The axial sliding movement of the thread is produced by such a fixed guide means together with the tension exerted on the thread as it is being wound. Thus, once the thread is initially loaded or deposited on the cylindrical guide element, the entire operation is essentially automatic and provides a predetermined initial winding or thread reserve winding before spooling the normal package onto the carrier.

An especially preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly schematic perspective view of a spooling device equipped with the improved prewinding means of the invention including a cylindrical guide element having two flanges;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the axis of rotation of the guide element adjacent one of its flanges; and

FIG. 3 is a' perspective view of a modified guide element with three flanges in addition to a collar fastening means.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be apparent that the thread or yarn Y runs from the fixed guide eyelet 17 to be spooled or wound into a conventional package on the carrier or bobbin sleeve 1 over the length of the sleeve represented by the pair of broken lines 2. This conventional thread package is wound with the aide of the traversing guide member 4 which reciprocates in a linear direction parallel to the carrier axis over the length 3 by means of the rod 5 which can also reciprocate with the guide member 4 being fixed thereto. Alternatively, the yoke or guide member 4 can be constructed as a conventional traveler keyed to the rod 5 or a camming means to produce the desired reciprocation for building the main thread package. The position 4' represents the opposite end of the traversing stroke of this reciprocating guide.

. The carrier 1 is rotated by positive frictional contact with the drive roller 6, althoughother conventional means may also be used for driving the bobbin or car rier. In some instances, it is desirable to vary the winding speed over the course of the main winding operation, eg to achieve a more uniform thread tension or other desirable winding characteristics. Likewise, one can employ various traversing movements in building up, the main winding or so-called normally wound thread package, such variations being outside the scope of the present invention which is essentially concerned with the pre-winding at one end of the carrier or sleeve 1, preferably with an automatic loadingor engagement of the traversing means.

The term initial winding is employed herein with the restricted meaning of the first or starting winding of a length of thread as it. is first brought from a previous operation ontothe spooling device of the invention, often as a length of waste or incompletely processed thread. The term thread reserve" refers, on the other hand, to a length of thread which has been completely processed or which has the same quality as the thread of the main winding, the length of winding in this thread reserve usually being rather short but long enough to permit easy access and tying with another thread end. The initial winding, by comparison, may be relatively long and is usually discarded as a waste material. The term pre-winding is thus intended to be generic to both the initial and thread reserve windings and is distinguished from the main winding or normally wound thread package.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the thread Y during the normal winding operation is also guided over the extended shaft and guide rod 7 which in turn is driven by the variable speed motor 8. During the pre-winding operation according to the invention the thread Y is guided in the path 9 over the cylindrical guide element 10 fixed onto the shaft 7 for rotation therewith. This guide element 10 contains at least two temporary thread barrier means in the form of the projecting flanges l1 and 12 spaced axially of one another as partial annularelements along the circumference of the guide element 10 which is in running contact with the thread 9. Each flange has at least one interruption or removed segment 14 so that the thread is free to slide axially past the flange at one open position of the rotated shaft 7, guide element 10 and flange 11 or 12.

This open position is shown most clearly in FIG. 2

' in which the running thread 9 passes tangentially onto and off of the circumferential surface of the prewinding guide element 10 mounted on shaft 7. In this instance, the flange 11 has two gaps or removed segments such that the remaining edges 16 on either side of each gap form an angle enclosing the guide element 10 which is preferably only slightly smaller than the enclosing angle of the thread in its guided path 9. The difference in the two angles can be expressed by 2a where a is the angle shown in FIG. 2 between the leading or trailing edge 16 of each annular flange segment and the thread path 9 running onto or off of the guide element 10, respectively, i.e. with this guide element rotated into one of its exact open positions. This angle a may be as small as a fraction of 1 degree up to about preferably from about 1 to 10.

The flange 11 in FIG. 2 has two open positions:

spaced 180 apart with reference to the rotational movement of the guide element 10 and its drive shaft 7. By providing four gaps or removed segments, preferably at 90 intervals, one can reduce the speed of rotation of the guide element to one-half and still obtain the same result with respect to the length of time between the open positions.

Other variations will be readily apparent, for example when using three interrupted flanges ll, 12 and 13 as in FIG. 3 where each flange has two oppositegaps or removed segments at 180 positions from one another, and the openings of each individual flange are turned 90 from those of the next adjacent flange. This is of course desirable to make certain that the thread will be temporarily held back or restrained by each successive flange after being released or transported over the open position of the preceding flange. The collar 19 with the set screw 20 serves in this embodiment to fasten the guide element 10a onto the rotatable drive shaft.

In starting up the spooling device with its auxiliary or pre-winding guide means according to the invention, the thread is brought from eyelet 17 and deposited along the fixed guide rod 15 onto the receiving zone or surface 18 of the cylindrical guide element 10 or 10a, and is then applied or taken up on the sleeve 1, e.g. by means of a thread-catch groove or notch which holds the thread end as winding on the sleeve begins.

The thread then travels or migrates along the surface 18 in the direction of the center of the sleeve 1, due to the tension being exerted on the thread, until it pushes up against the side flank of the first flange 11 which can be preset in one of its closed positions or which preferably receives the thread at any point of time in its continuously rotating operation to provide an initial winding or indeterminate length. This first barrier formed by flange 11 is then crossed by the thread at a very specific rotational position. In FIG. 1, the flange 11 has only one such position at which the thread crosses, i.e. a single gap or interrupted portion which in this instance is hidden from view and away from the visible gap 14 of flange 12.

Once the thread crosses or slides by the first flange 11, it travels or migrates further axially along the guide element 10 up to the second flange 12 where another temporary barrier is formed until this flange also rotates into its open position to permit the thread to pass over gap 14 as indicated in FIG. 1. The length of thread applied to the carrier sleeve 1 in the terminal zone 21 while the thread runs in the area of the guide element 10 between the two flanges depends upon the linear velocity of the thread itself, the turning speed of the guide element and the arrangement of the gaps or removed segments of the rotating flanges. By using different interchangeable flanges and/or by varying the rotational speed of these flanges, one can vary precisely place maximum and minimum limits on the total length of thread which runs onto the carrier terminal zone from between two adjacent flanges. In FIG. 3, two such deflnitelengths of thread can be applied to the terminal zone of the carrier by using the three flanges ll, 12 and 13. i

In this manner, one can carefully meet the requirements placed on both the initial winding and the thread reserve. Moreover, with a relatively slowly rotating guide element and properly designed flanges, there is practically no danger of damaging the running thread. To achieve relatively short lengths of thread in the pre' wound terminal zone of the carrier, it is desirable to provide three or four gaps around the flange so that with a reduction in rotational speed, the running thread is still only briefly retained onthe cylindrical flangebearing guide element.

Very shortly after being released by the last flange, the thread falls into or becomes engaged in the reciprocating thread guide 4 as shown in FIG. 1, whereby the thread is conventionally wound into a cross bandage package, i.e. cross-laid layers of the main winding. This slotted guide 4 with its reciprocating rod 5 travel so rapidly that the thread emerging axially from guide element 10 will normally pass only a short distance toward the center of the winding before it is positively engaged by the guide 4, i.e. by riding up the slanted arm portion of the yoke-shaped guide. Thus, the position of this conventional traversing guide at the beginning of the winding operation is of no importance, and it will engage the thread automatically to begin the main winding almost immediately after the initial or thread reserve winding have been completed near the end of the carrier. i

The guide rod 7 can continue to function as a guide means for the main winding in addition to its function as a drive shaft for the multi-flanged guide element 10. On the other hand, this shaft 7 can also be a separate guide rod in a fixed position or even in a retractable position, e.g. by means of any practical mounting means. The embodiment of the pre-winding means and spooling device shown in FIG. 1 is especially valuable. however, because it can be installed in a very small space.

The cylindrical guide elements 10 and 10a have at least one pair of coplanar, circumferentially spaced flanges 11, 12, 13 projecting circumferentially and radially from opposite sides of the cylindrical guide element. Each flange has a steeply flanked side face 22 forming respective thread restraining shoulders. Each flange has a leading edge 16 and trailing edge 16, said edges lying in respective planes T which are substantially tangential (FIG. 2) with the cylindrical surface of the guide element 10 or 10a.

The thread guide means 17 and 4 preceding and following the guide element 10 or 10a guide the thread Y arcuately over and in contact with an arcuate portion of the cylindrical surface of guide element 10 or 10a. As shown in FIG. 2, the thread runs tangentially onto and off the arcuate portion of the cylindrical surface. The are A between the tangential intersections with the cylindrical surface of the respective planes of the leading and trailing edges 16 and 16' of respective flanges is greater than the arc B of said arcuate portion which is contacted by the running thread Y.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the pair of flanges 12,12 is circumferentially staggered by 90 relative to the next adjacent pair of flanges 11,11 and 13,13. An angle a of about 1 to 10 is formed between said respective tangential planes of said leading edges and trailing edges of said flanges and the thread running onto and off of said cylindrical surface when the guide element is rotated to a position wherein the thread is not restrained by said steeply flanked faces forming said threadrestraining shoulders (FIG. 2).

It is a particular advantage of the invention that one can easily produce initial windings and thread reserve windings of a predetermined and adjustable length at one end of the carrier for the main winding. Furthermore, these two different pre-windings can be distinctly separated from each other in a relatively short axial length of the carrier directly adjacent one end thereof, each prewinding being produced automatically as well as leading automatically into the main winding by sliding axially into the traversing thread guide of the main winding.

The invention also permits a very careful handling of the thread while allowing narrow or almost point-like pre-windings where the running thread rests temporarily up against each flange member. Finally, all of the individual parts of the spooling device, especially the prewinding means therefor, are very inexpensively constructed and installed. A special advantage of the supplemental or pre-winding guide element with its two or more flanges resides in the fact that it can be produced as a' body of revolution, preferably treated in a conventional manner to provide a hard and wear-resistant surface for contact with the running thread. Other customary features of design and construction of the over-all spooling device are capable of being widely varied and still be adapted for combination with the pre-winding means of this invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1'. in a spooling device for producing a thread package by winding a thread onto a rotating carrier. the improvement of means for pre-winding the thread onto a terminal zone of the carrier axially adjacent the normally wound thread package which comprises:

an elongated cylindrical guide element rotatably mounted and positioned along said carrier terminal zone with the axis of the guide element parallel to the carrier axis so that the thread is received in running contact partially around the circumferential surface of said guide element; drive means to rotate said cylindrical guide element;

and at least one pair of coplanar, circumferentially spaced flanges projecting circumferentially and radially from diametrically opposite sides of said cylindrical guide element, each flange having a steeply flanked side face forming respective thread restraining shoulders, and each flange having a leading edge and a trailing edge which lie in respective planes which are substantially tangential with the cylindrical surface of said guide element, and thread guide means preceding and following said guide element for guiding the thread arcuately over and in contact with an arcuate portion of said cylindrical surface, upon which arcuate portion the thread runs tangentially onto and off said cylindrical surface, and the are between the tangential intersections of respective planes of said leading and trailing edges of respective flanges with said cylindrical surface being greater than the arc of said arcuate portion contacted by said running thread.

2. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 including three of said pairs of said projecting flanges axially spaced along the length of said guide element.

3. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, said guide element having at least two of said pairs of flanges, and one pair of flanges being circumferentially staggered by relative to the next adjacent pair of flanges.

4. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means is adjustable to vary the rotational speed of the guide element and its flanges.

5. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, and further including a thread guide rod projecting along the length of said carrierin a position parallel to the carrier axis.

6. A spooling device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second rod is a drive shaft coaxial with and bearing said guide element, said shaft being rotated by said drive means.

7. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, said thread guide means including traversing means for said thread interposed between said guide element and said carrier.

8. A spooling device as claimed in claim 7 and further including a cylindrical thread guide rod coaxial with and extending axially of said guide element along the length of the carrier.

9. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an angle a of about 1 to 10 is formed between said respective tangential planes of said leading edges and trailing edges of said flanges and the thread running onto and off of said cylindrical surface when the guide element is rotated to a position wherein the thread is not restrained by said steeply flanked faces forming said thread-restraining shoulders. 

1. In a spooling device for producing a thread package by winding a thread onto a rotating carrier, the improvement of means for pre-winding the thread onto a terminal zone of the carrier axially adjacent the normally wound thread package which comprises: an elongated cylindrical guide element rotatably mounted and positioned along said carrier terminal zone with the axis of the guide element parallel to the carrier axis so that the thread is received in running contact partially around the circumferential surface of said guide element; drive means to rotate said cylindrical guide element; and at least one pair of coplanar, circumferentially spaced flanges projecting circumferentially and radially from diametrically opposite sides of said cylindrical guide element, each flange having a steeply flanked side face forming respective thread restraining shoulders, and each flange having a leading edge and a trailing edge which lie in respective planes which are substantially tangential with the cylindrical surface of said guide element, and thread guide means preceding and following said guide element for guiding the thread arcuately over and in contact with an arcuate portion of said cylindrical surface, upon which arcuate portion the thread runs tangentially onto and off said cylindrical surface, and the arc between the tangential intersections of respective planes of said leading and trailing edges of respective flanges with said cylindrical surface being greater than the arc of said arcuate portion contacted by said running thread.
 2. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 including three of said pairs of said projecting flanges axially spaced along the length of said guide element.
 3. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, said guide element having at least two of said pairs of flanges, and one pair of flanges being circumferentially staggered by 90* relative to the next adjacent pair of flanges.
 4. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means is adjustable to vary the rotational speed of the guide element and its flanges.
 5. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, and further including a thread guide rod projecting along the length of said carrier in a position parallel to the carrier axis.
 6. A spooling device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said second rod is a drive shaft coaxial with and bearing said guide element, said shaft being rotated by said drive meAns.
 7. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1, said thread guide means including traversing means for said thread interposed between said guide element and said carrier.
 8. A spooling device as claimed in claim 7 and further including a cylindrical thread guide rod coaxial with and extending axially of said guide element along the length of the carrier.
 9. A spooling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an angle Alpha of about 1* to 10* is formed between said respective tangential planes of said leading edges and trailing edges of said flanges and the thread running onto and off of said cylindrical surface when the guide element is rotated to a position wherein the thread is not restrained by said steeply flanked faces forming said thread-restraining shoulders. 